Lauren's Immigration Project - Page Text Content

3: November 2, 1905 Lilly Collins When I turned around, I saw my hometown, already miles away. I told myself we were going to a better place, and that seemed to calm me down. My mother and father don’t think I know, but I do. They can’t bear to be anywhere near where my grandmother died. I remember everything vividly. She said one goodbye to me, gave me a gold pendant with the words I LOVE YOU inscribed on it, then died. As I took one last glance at Athens, I saw the statue of the god Zeus, stare at me. I looked at the small luggage I carried, holding clothes, my jewelry, my doll, pictures of things in my old room, a box of pencils, 25 dollars, a blanket, my journal, my ferry tickets, and my pendant. The chariot was not very big, and as I jostled around, we approached the pier. I had imagined the boat, and when I saw it, big and towering over us, it did not disappoint, the ship that would take us to America. We were going to leave Europe to go west to North America, As I boarded the boat, I saw the deck, the beds, and the staff, and knew that this would be a long ride.

4: My Doll | My Blanket | Things I Brought In My Luggage

5: I LOVE YOU | The necklace my grandmother gave to me | 25 Dollars

6: My Teddy Bear | My Jewelry Box | My Treasured Things

7: November 4, 1905 Lilly Collins It has been two days since I was on land, and I am beginning to think we will never arrive. So far, we have crossed the Mediterranean Sea, and went through the Atlantic Ocean. For every meal, we always have one piece of bread, one small bowl of soup, and some very old, stale crackers. I have a map of the course we are about to take, and it seems like such a short ride, but really it is going to take at least one more day. The beds are stuffy and hot, but outside it is freezing, and I bring my blanket out with me when I need fresh air. During the winter, it is much colder than it is in Athens. We are in a place called Greenland. We are taking a detour because we have run out of supplies. Even though it is freezing, the mountain peaks covered in snow are just so beautiful. The lush green grass, that still grows, even when it is snowing just amazes me! We have finally left. My mother is ill, and I am feeling very seasick. I don not know what is going to happen to her if she is sick, but I hope she gets cured before we get there. Wait, I see something! I see America.

8: Greenland Covered In Snow | My Boat Ride To Ellis Island

9: The Soup And Bread I Ate On The Boat | Crackers

10: Ellis Island and the Great Hall

11: November 7, 1905 Lilly Collins We finally arrived. We came to a place called Ellis Island. It has only a couple buildings, and most of them are all burned, and decayed. It is not the best first impression. I am a little scared, and I am not sure if I want to go through with this, but when I saw my parents hopeful faces, I just could not tell them. This is where we are checked, and approved to come to America. We first went to the baggage room, where we dropped off our bags, then we went to the great hall where we were checked for our medical exam, where we were not treated very fairly. I was checked, and approved, and so was my father, but sadly, my mother fell ill, and she was kept in one of the beds in the great hall to be treated. The doctor said she had a disease called small pox. He said mother would have a small chance of living. After father and I got approved, we went through a legal inspection, and then we went through money exchange, where I paid my 25 dollars, and got legally, approved. Father told me that we should go, so I left, leaving my poor mother behind.

12: Bread From Irene's House | Cream Soup

13: My New Dress

14: November 11, 2012 Lilly Collins When we got to America, My cousin Irene was waiting for me in New York with my uncle Philip. The weather here is much warmer than Athens. The people were also much colder towards me, the people in Athens.My father and I told him about what happened with our mother, and they said we that we should stay with them until we could find a good place to stay. Irene let me share her room with me, and it was just amazing. There was a great view of all of America, and I could finally see why people wanted to live here so badly. I could see the whole field covered in white flowers. Irene told me they we called Lilly of the Valley. Later, Uncle Philip told us to come for dinner, so we came. We ate some sort of cream soup with white bread. Something we didn't eat often, and it was REALLY good. After dinner, Irene wanted to get me a new dress, so we went to her neighbor who promised to make me a dress. When it was finished, the dress had a design made up of many flowers, and a big pocket to put things in. Uncle Phil told me that in three days, I could go back to Ellis Island, and see my mother. I asked why, and they told me, that my mother was cured.

15: My Two Notebooks | Some Plants In The Garden

16: November 13, 2012 Lilly Collins Tomorrow I am going to see my mother at Ellis Island, and I am so excited. I can barely wait! My father and I have been looking for a place for us to live when my mother gets back, and we have also been looking for a school for me to go to. My father and I bought a nice, little house not very far from Irene's house, and I even made a new friend there. She is my neighbor,and we have become very good friends. Her name is Anna Miller. Anna and I like to go into our backyards, and plant flowers. The flowers here are much prettier than the flowers in Athens, so I am very happy. We both especially like the Lilly Of The Valley. Anna and I both go to the same school. West Brook for girls school. There, we are required to always have a pencil, two notebooks, and a ruler. I can't wait to be in school, and to finally see my mother.

17: My Ruler | My Pencil

18: This is the place that made me the happiest I've ever been

19: November 14, 1905 I was told my mother recovered, something that is very uncommon. I was so happy I couldn't even describe the feelings in me. I walked down the pathway that would eventually lead me to the kissing post, and saw her, pale, but looking very healthy otherwise. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision, and making my walking uncoordinated. I’'m not sure how, but I ended up in my mothers arms, feeling, finally, at home.